a lesson from over thinking
planning isn't always a good thing
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“If you're thinking without writing, you only think you're thinking.”
- Leslie Lamport
I came across this quote while reading ‘Writes and Write-Nots’, one of Paul Graham’s essays. It was my close friend, Eoin Lynch, who put me onto Graham’s essays a couple of years back. My favourite is, without doubt, ‘Cities and Ambition’.
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking recently, but very little writing. When I sat down, as I do a few times a year, to read and re-read some of Graham’s work, I realised I need to stop thinking and start writing.
There’s been a lot to think about this year.
The demise of Ribble Rebellion hit me hard. That team became both my baby and my double-edged sword. Everyday there was a problem to solve, or something to do. Whether it be talk to a race director, attend a partner meeting or organise the delivery of energy gels to a random State and random race in America. My brain was always full.
Even when I hadn’t been asked to, I’d already started to plan for 2025 and beyond. I’d put processes in place, and done so much of the thinking that, if somebody asked me a question, I could answer before they’d finished their sentence. I’d thought of every hypothetical that could ever happen. I thought I was planning perfectly - I was in fact chronically overthinking.
I made a lot of mistakes running the team, and I learned a lot of lessons. I don’t think, although I’m happy to be corrected, that I made any big mistakes in the day-to-day running of the team. My biggest mistake was how I managed myself, and burned myself out. They say hindsight is 20/20…
When in London at the start of off-season, I spent a few days with Jon Twigg. As well as being one half of Pullwood Consulting, my title sponsor, he’s a mentor and a friend. Hi Jon, if you’re reading this.
Jon has a background in the start-up world and is an incredible listener. I asked him a simple question, “Did you know I was making mistakes at the time?”
He smiled and, to paraphrase his reply, said, “Yes, but if I’d told you, you probably wouldn’t have listened anyway. A lot of lessons, you have to learn through doing.” Sorry if I butchered your actual words there Jon.
I didn’t realise it until I came back to Europe this week, but I needed to get away to Northern America this off-season. I needed to be out of my cycling bubble, into a different world. It’s done me a lot of good, and I’d say I’m the calmest I’ve been in a long time.
So, “If you're thinking without writing, you only think you're thinking.” - Leslie Lamport
I’m going to be writing a lot more this winter, because when I get things down on paper (or GoogleDoc, we are in 2024 after all), it exposes them for better and worse.
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Later this month, I’ll be publishing a piece about the demise of Ribble Rebellion, and my lessons from running that team day-to-day.
Joe
While you’re here…
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